ChiefPilot
Well Known Member
So I've got a couple of years and north of 450 hours on my -6A and it's running great. Engine cooling, which I was concerned might be an issue, has not normally been an issue. I have an IO-360-B1B w/dual PMags and a Hartzell prop.
Here's the rub - two minutes at full power, high AoA, moderate (2-4G) and relatively low airspeeds (85 knots or less) will have the CHTs licking 425. I'm looking for ways to provide additional cooling efficiency before doing something drastic like louvers or a cowl flap. I'm not opposed to doing a cowl flap; I'll follow DanH's lead there if it comes to it. I'd just like to explore other areas first.
One thing that comes to mind is the nose gear leg fairing. It seems possible that , at high AoA, it might be partially pressurizing the lower cowl. I'm going to be testing this theory out over the next couple of days with some tufting, a GoPro, and then perhaps something to block potential airflow here.
I'm also going to give the baffles a critical examination, but I think the gains there might be small if only because cooling during takeoff and climb is pretty good. Cruise temps are low 300's in the summer and high 200's in the winter.
Here's the rub - two minutes at full power, high AoA, moderate (2-4G) and relatively low airspeeds (85 knots or less) will have the CHTs licking 425. I'm looking for ways to provide additional cooling efficiency before doing something drastic like louvers or a cowl flap. I'm not opposed to doing a cowl flap; I'll follow DanH's lead there if it comes to it. I'd just like to explore other areas first.
One thing that comes to mind is the nose gear leg fairing. It seems possible that , at high AoA, it might be partially pressurizing the lower cowl. I'm going to be testing this theory out over the next couple of days with some tufting, a GoPro, and then perhaps something to block potential airflow here.
I'm also going to give the baffles a critical examination, but I think the gains there might be small if only because cooling during takeoff and climb is pretty good. Cruise temps are low 300's in the summer and high 200's in the winter.